Metallic grave-vault



C. V. LUCIUS.

METALLIC GRAVE VAULT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, I919.

1,359,402. Patented Nov. 16,1920.

CHRISTIAN v. rooms, or MASSILLON, oIrIo.

PATENT OFFICE.

METALLIC GRAVE-VAULT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented It in. U)", 1920.

Application filed March 13, 1919. SerialNo. 282,411.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN V. Lucius, a citizen of the United States, residin at Massillon, in the county of Stark and tate of Ghio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Grave-Vaults, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in metallic grave vaults, and more particularly to that class or type which are adapted to receive and hermetically seal the casket and protect the latter from grave robbers as well as from deteriorating elements.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a generally improved metallic vault of this class, which will be exceedingly simple in construction, cheap of manufacture, and efiicient in use.

A further object is the provision of a metallic vault provided with an improved removable head or door, together with improved means for clamping, sealing and securing the same after the casket has been inserted in the vault.

A still further and very important obj eot of the invention is the provision of a grave vault made entirely of sheet metal particularly designed and adapted to be welded throughout through the agency of autogeneous welding, or other welding processes, thereby eliminating the use of rivets or other fastening elements, the edges of the metal parts being particularly arranged and disposed to present welding edges adapted to such welding processes.

With the above mentioned and other ends in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in one of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1, is a perspective view of the improved metallic vault with the removable head or door removed.

Fig. 2, a transverse or cross sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3, a view of the inner side of the removable head or door, removed.

Fig. 4:, a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the improved vault, illustrating in particular the manner of securing the permanent and removable heads therein.

Fig. 5, a top plan view of the vault truck for receiving and supporting one end of the casket as the latter is inserted into the vault from the open end thereof.

Fig. 6, an end view of the casket receiving and supporting truck.

Similar numerals of reference designate" 'and having its free or meeting end portions arranged beneath to form the bottom wall 3, the ends of said blank of sheet metal abutting against. each other and extending longitudinally of the bottom of the vault body forming abutting edges united by means of a longitudinally extending line of welding 3 as shown most drawings.

Asa means of forming a suitable rail or track-way for receiving and supporting a clearly in Fig. 2 of the suitable casket receiving and supporting truck hereinafter described, the bottom wall 3, of the vault body is provided with a pair of spaced rails 4, the base flanges thereof being secured and welded to the bottom wall 3, as for exampleby means of a line of welding P, along the edges of the flanges of the rails. It will also be observed that one of the rails 4, is arranged immediately above the welded edges of the sheet of metal forming the vault body and united by the welding 3, and it will also be observed that such rail so welded will act to further secure and reinforce such adjacent and abutting edges of the blank of sheet metal.

I The improved vault body is provided with a permanent or fixed head 5, having inwardly extending welding "flanges 5. as shown most clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The opposite end of the vault body is provided with a removable head or door 6,

adapted to open and close the open end of the vault body for the purpose of inserting the casket and thereafter fastening and seal ing said removable head after which the vault may be lowered into the grave through the medium of the handles 7 and any suitable and convenient casket or vault lowering device.

As a means of securing the removable tallic vault body are provided with a head supporting and sealing member 8, and as a means of welding the latter to the edges threaded bolt members 9, extending outwardly and adapted to pass through a series of similarly spaced bolt receiving openings 6, in the marginal clamping and sealing flange 6", of the head 6.

As a further means of sealing the removable head 6, the outer or face. side of the head supporting and sealing member 8, is provided with a gasket 10, of any suitable and convenient material, and the threaded bolts 9, are provided with wing nuts 9 for securely clamping the head 6,

upon the gasket 10. 7

As a means of automatically locking the removable head 6 in position when-closed so that no one will be able to open the same, the inner side of the head 6, is provided with a plurality of locks comprising suitable lock casings 11, provided with spring pressed lock or plunger-members 11, having inclined portions 11 adapted, when the head 6, is pressed into position. to bear against and to cooperate with the inner side of the head supporting and sealing member 8, and after passing the latter to snap into engagement therewith in an obvious and well known manner, thereby se curely locking the same in position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

'As a convenient means of inserting the casket into the vault through the open end of the latter when the head 6 has been removed, the vault body is provided with a removable truck, comprising a main or cross member 12, and truck or side carriage members 12*, the latter being provided with grooved wheels 12", adapted to travel upon the rails 41:, of the track-way, The truck cross member 12, is provided-with a pair of casket engaging and supporting pins 12, adapted to engage with the under side of thecasket at one end thereotas the casket is inserted and passed into the metallic vault.

From the foregoing descri tion, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

Having thus described one of the embodiments of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is;-

In a vault, a metallic vault body made up of a blank of sheet metal folded longitudinally and having its edges abutting and welded along its bottom portion, and rails welded on said bottom, one of said rails being welded above and :to the abutting edges of said vault body.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed m signature.

CHRISTIAN V. LUGIUS. 

